Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-04-12
The Jewel that John Found.
ny VINCENT BELL.


second and last whistle had blown AT
Darts shoe factory when Annie Vega
came running up the street, painting
and red OF face, John Dart, standing
on the steps talking with Two
strangers smiled rs she came up, ana
said in slightly surprised tones;
"You are late this morning MISS
Nelga-some.hing never before
known
eyes. sir. lam sorry, but over
slept myself"
up late last night-had BEAU
perhaps?' suggested John, rosulshly'
"No, sir" retorted Annie, promptly,
and rather snappishly. Tor even
though he was the nephew OF William
Dart. the great shoeman, and the pro-
spective heir to all his wealth, she CON
slider ed he was taking liberty, especl-
ally before $ lngers. Perhaps pretty
and prim little Annie had some other
reason, too, for resenting his remark.
pretty GIRL said one ofthe strang-
ers after she had passed.
yes" assented John, "and about
the neatest, quickest girl ever in the
work-room," and then the stranger
began talking again very earnestly, AS
before Annie came up the steps.
"Well," said John, 'of course you
may satisfy yourself, but | can tell
you beforehand there is not one OF our
girls whom we do not trust. 1t will
take you about all day, for they live
in all directions from here, il you have
to search their rooms. As uncle says
must go with you in that case, the
sooner it is over the better for me"
Then they all three went up stairs to
the girls workroom.
"Will those who stopped at Dlngus'
jewelry store last night, on the way
home from work, please stand up?"
said John. Over half OF them stood
up. while John took down their names
and the numbers OF their rooms, aud
the detectives watched each tace keen
ly. So far no one was disturbed by u
guilty conscience. After ascertaining
beyond doubt that all who had
been i'll the store reported. John an
nounced:
1--WE have received word that a val
liable amount of jewelry was stolen
from this firm last night at about the
hour you were there, therefore suspi-
cion has fallen upon you, and each
girl must allow her room to be search.
ed if the goods are not previously
found upon her person."
So the search began. A quiet, trusty
girl, much older than the others, and
who had not been with them the even
ing before, was appointed to conduct
the personal investigation in another
room. One aft er another left the
workroom to return in a few minutes,
declared innocent, until the officers
were satisfied none of the goods were
at the factory.
"Now," said John, when the last
girl had returned, will each one of you
give me your keys in turn, for must
accompany this officer in his search
while the other remains here"
mot this morning spoke up Anna
Velga, quickly, while the smart detec-
tive felt the jewels in his grasp, so to
speak, and the reward in his pockets.
John looked surprised some said he
turned a triiie pale as he looked into
Armies flushed guilty face.
YES, of course. this morning" he
answered gravely. "What difference
is it, Miss Annie?"
None" answered Annie, hastily;
but as John took her key, the detec.
tive, thinking it best to search her
room at once, instead of in her turn,
she burst out crying and seemed so
broken down the remaining officer felt
justified in placing her under arrest.
John had visited Annie's room be-
fore, Just once, not many evenings be-
lore. He had taken her book
to read and q small basket OF
fruit, thinking that as neat way
to begin his courtship as any. He
had thought as he left that evening.
! 1T was the prettiest, brightest little
! room he had ever seen, far exceeding
any IN his uncle's grand mansion.
He had little thought the next time
he climbed the stairs to room No.
~ would be upon such q painful err
! rand. He could not believe sweet lit
tie Annie guilty until it was proven,
yet he climbed the steps unwilingly,
and with more unwilling fingers turn
ed IN the lock the key Annie had sur
rendered. When the door was omen
| he stood for moment irresolnta.
The room seemed the same, vet not
! the same either. Where, the EVENING
he had called q pretty Japanese
screen had stood, was now q rather
shabby though scrupuously clean lit
! tie stove, and thereon a skillet with q
few potatoes left from the mornings
meal; and II dainty bed, with covers
! thrown back and pillows airing, was
| drawn out where had stood a small
BOOK cabinet he had particularly no.
tieed. John treasured himself he was
III the right door by several little ar
tlcles on the walls, and while the busv
detective was diving around in Annie's
one trunk and the bureau drawers
! looking Tor the lost treasure John was
looking around at this little level of a
a room, fairy's paradise as it seem.
to HIM. Across the foot OF the bed
was a dainty nightdress, to be sure.
made OF cheap muslin and trimmed
IN crochet lace, but John did not know
the difference between it and one of
linen trimmed 10 finest thread,
Two small slippers were set ore.
clsely under the bed and over n
stool by their side was n pair OF
red stockings turned inside out as
1h0tlnh Il 81. l. i i